Troubleshooting Common Problems in Replacement for General Electric SRPG600A600

The General Electric SRPG600A600 is a rating plug. It is a small plug-in module that fits the trip unit of a GE Spectra RMS molded case circuit breaker and sets the breaker’s ampere rating, in this case 600A on a 600A sensor. The BRAH Electric replacement is the BE-SRPG600A600, listed for SGDA, SGHA, SGLA, SGPA frames.

It is not a bus component and it does not interrupt current, so problems after a replacement are rarely about bus alignment or interrupting capacity. They nearly always come down to one of three things: the plug belongs to a different frame or trip unit series, it is not seated properly, or its rating does not suit the load. This guide works through each one.

SRPG600A600 at a glance

• Part type: rating plug for a GE Spectra Series molded case circuit breaker with a Spectra RMS trip unit.
• Plug rating: 600A. Sensor rating: 600A.
• Breaker frame types in the catalogue: SGDA, SGHA, SGLA, SGPA.
• BRAH part number: BE-SRPG600A600. The catalogue marks the GE original as obsolete.
• Other plugs listed for the same 600A sensor: 250A, 300A, 350A, 400A, 450A, 500A, 600A. See all replacement rating plugs.

What the SRPG600A600 rating plug does

A breaker with an electronic trip unit measures current through built-in sensors. The sensor rating is fixed when the breaker is built. The rating plug tells the trip unit what ampere rating to apply within that sensor rating. Fit a lower plug and the same breaker becomes a lower-rated breaker, without changing the frame.

The SRPG600A600 is the top of its group: a 600A plug on a 600A sensor, so the breaker is rated at the full value of its sensor. The other plugs in the SRPG600A group set the same breaker lower, from 250A upward. In the catalogue, the number before the letter A matches the sensor rating in each description and the number after it matches the plug rating.

Because the plug sets the breaker rating, it also decides what the breaker protects. The conductors and equipment on the load side must be suitable for the rating the plug sets. That is why a plug should be replaced like for like unless an engineer has reviewed the change.

BRAH replacements for GE SRPG rating plugs

The table lists the BRAH replacements for SRPG plugs on 400A and 600A sensors. All of them are listed for Spectra RMS trip units and for SGDA, SGHA, SGLA, SGPA frames. The sensor rating is the value the catalogue gives as the maximum frame amperage the plug suits.

The BRAH number is the GE number with BE- in front. A 400A-sensor breaker takes plugs from the SRPG400A group and a 600A-sensor breaker takes plugs from the SRPG600A group. For anything not in the table, call (855) 355-2724 with the part number.

Start with the fit: is it the right plug for this breaker?

Most replacement problems start before the plug is installed. A 600A rating plug exists for more than one Spectra frame, and the plugs are not the same part. The table shows the 600A plugs in the catalogue and the frames each one is listed for.

Read three things from the breaker before blaming the plug: the frame type from the catalogue number on the breaker label (for the SRPG600A600 it should begin with SGDA, SGHA, SGLA or SGPA), the sensor rating marked on the breaker, and the trip unit type. If the breaker is an SK frame, or an SG frame with a 400A sensor, the SRPG600A600 is the wrong part and the answer is a different plug, not more troubleshooting.

If the plug that came out of the breaker is available, compare its label with the replacement. The numbers should match exactly apart from the BE- prefix.

Check the seating and the condition of the plug

A rating plug makes a low-level electrical connection to the trip unit through small pins. It has to be pushed fully home and sit square. A plug that is tilted, partly inserted or held off by debris can give an intermittent connection, and the trip unit may then behave as if the plug were missing or wrong.

• Look at the pins on the replacement before fitting it. They should be straight and clean.
• Look into the plug opening on the trip unit for dust, corrosion or a broken piece of the old plug.
• Press the plug in by hand until it is flush. If it needs force, stop and recheck the part number.
• Refit any cover or retaining screw that held the original plug in place.

In equipment that vibrates, check the seating again after the breaker has been in service for a while. A plug that has worked loose shows the same symptoms as one that was never seated.

Compare the plug rating with the actual load

If the plug fits and is seated, look at the rating. A 600A plug sets a 600A breaker rating. Measure the current on each phase under normal running conditions and compare it with that figure.

Two situations are common. In the first, the breaker now trips at a load it used to carry. Check the plug that was removed: if it was not an SRPG600A600, the rating has changed, and the fix is the plug that matches the original. In the second, the measured load is close to or above 600A. Then the breaker is doing its job and the plug is not at fault. A larger rating is a design question for an engineer, because it involves the breaker frame, the sensor and the conductors.

The reverse can also happen. If a breaker that should be rated lower was given a 600A plug, it will carry more current than the circuit was designed for before it trips. The lower ratings on the same sensor, such as the BE-SRPG600A400 or BE-SRPG600A500, exist for those circuits.

Symptoms, likely causes and what to check

The settings on the trip unit itself are separate from the rating plug. This guide does not cover them. Take them from the GE instructions for the trip unit and from the coordination study for your site, and have the breaker tested as part of your maintenance program. NFPA 70B is the standard for electrical equipment maintenance.

Before you order an SRPG600A600 replacement

• The full part number on the installed plug: SRPG600A600.
• The breaker frame type. The catalogue lists this plug for SGDA, SGHA, SGLA, SGPA.
• The sensor rating on the breaker: 600A for this plug.
• The trip unit: Spectra RMS.
• The load: the measured current and the conductor size should suit a 600A rating.

The product page for the BE-SRPG600A600 has photos and a datasheet to compare with the plug in your hand. BRAH Electric designs its parts in-house and tests them at its Carlsbad, California facility. It is an aftermarket manufacturer and is not an authorized General Electric distributor. Rating plugs carry a 2-year warranty from the date of invoice, and in-stock orders placed before 3:00 PM Pacific ship the same business day.

If the breaker needs more than a plug, the guide to circuit breaker replacement parts covers the other parts that can be replaced without changing the breaker.

Safety when changing a rating plug

Change a rating plug only with the breaker open and de-energized, following the breaker manufacturer’s instructions. Apply lockout/tagout, verify the absence of voltage, and leave the work to qualified personnel. See OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 for the control of hazardous energy.

SRPG600A600 replacement FAQs

What is a General Electric SRPG600A600?

It is a 600A rating plug for a GE Spectra Series molded case circuit breaker with a 600A sensor and a Spectra RMS trip unit. It sets the ampere rating of the breaker.

Why does the breaker trip after I replaced the rating plug?

First confirm the new plug has the same part number as the old one and is fully seated. Then measure the load. If the old plug had a higher rating, or the load is near 600A, the breaker is responding to the rating the plug sets.

Can I use an SRPG600A600 in a 400A Spectra breaker?

No. The catalogue lists it for a 600A sensor. A breaker with a 400A sensor takes a plug from the SRPG400A group, such as the SRPG400A400.

Is the SRPG600A600 the same as the SRPK800A600?

No. Both are 600A plugs, but the SRPK800A600 is listed for SKDA, SKHA, SKLA and SKPA frames with an 800A sensor. Order by the full number on the installed plug.

Does the rating plug affect the interrupting rating of the breaker?

The rating plug sets the ampere rating. The interrupting rating belongs to the breaker and is shown on its label. Check it there, not on the plug.

What is the BRAH part number for the SRPG600A600?

BE-SRPG600A600. For help confirming a match, call (855) 355-2724, Monday to Friday, 6AM to 5PM Pacific.

References

• UL 489, Molded-Case Circuit Breakers, Molded-Case Switches and Circuit-Breaker Enclosures. The product standard for the type of breaker this plug fits.
• NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).